Assad prays as war rages across Syria

Monday, July 28, 2014 - 01:01

Bashar al-Assad has appeared in public for ther first time since being sworn in for a third term as Syria's president. Assad joined the faithful for prayers on the Muslim holiday of Eid, although outside the mosque Syria's war continued unabated. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

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Syrian State TV airs footage of President Bashar al-Assad attending Eid Al Fitr prayers at a Damascus mosque.
It's his first public appearance since being sworn in as president for a third term.
But Assad's prayers come against a backdrop of continuing violence across the country.
(Natsot - violence)
On the streets of Aleppo, yet more grief.
This video, which can not be independently verified by Reuters shows the aftermath of another attack, purportedly launched by government forces.
The war has already killed more than 170,000 people, and the body count continues to rise, as Assad's forces reportedly gain ground against the rebel, in their effort to reassert his grip on power in Syria.

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